I look for .999. As for how you buy it, that depends on why you buy it. If you are buying as an investment buy ingots or bars. If you are buying it for a SHTF event and plan to use it for money to buy/trade for essentials stick with coins and smaller amounts. I buy silver 1oz coins and also silver 1/10th oz coins. With gold I purchase mostly 1/10th ounce coins, although I do buy ingots for investment purposes. I use mostly JM Bullion.
I look for .999. As for how you buy it, that depends on why you buy it. If you are buying as an investment buy ingots or bars. If you are buying it for a SHTF event and plan to use it for money to buy/trade for essentials stick with coins and smaller amounts. I buy silver 1oz coins and also silver 1/10th oz coins. With gold I purchase mostly 1/10th ounce coins, although I do buy ingots for investment purposes. I use mostly JM Bullion.